The new patch has made many people upset although that's just the incomformation with what's new and how to deal with it. It has always have been like that and it's human nature to fear what one does not know.

Give it a month or so, and no one will ever talk about the 263 being downtiered and the 122-54 removed. Probably something better or worse will appear in their place. Knowing Wargaming, this is not a matter of if but rather when.

Still, what's further down the road may not be the bombshell people anticipate in Minsk, which will be the core of this post.

Each point is the TL;DR.

1 - Patch 1 doesn't fix anything.

We've been complaining about the

Matchmaker

The new template makes you excessively reliant on the 3 top tiers to do most of their work. If they do not correspond to the expectations and fold before doing anything, the 3 on other team will just crush the opposition. This is why you keep seeing 15-0 results more often than not.

For all its flaws, artillery was one of the few things that was appropriately reworked. But there are still some tidbits left, although nothing particularly "game-breaking".

Light Tanks

Light vehicles are in essence, crippled medium tanks with poor armour with same or less view range, poor gunhandling, accuracy or both and with mediocre DPM, tagged with even less penetration where it is lost far higher over distance than other classes.

In other words, Heavy Tanks, no longer offer that protection advantage that came to those who know how to use it and to allow a player put a few more shots before being destroyed. Now tanks do that for the player.

As soon as a new patch comes out, players immediately free experience the new vehicles because they are, in paper, better than the rest.

If those happen to be premium vehicles, that's even worse, since anyone with disposable income can easily get a vehicle that does half the battle for them.

The much fabled Type 59 used to grant a sort of "celebrity status" to those who owned it. Now, on paper, a T-44-100 is a much better alternative that comes on sale more often.

6 - Game is becoming too stale and repetitive

Some SFX might make those with high-end spec PCs look the other way but seeing yourself doing the same things over and over after pressing the "Battle!" button in 4K is not a good seller in my personal view.

The lack of alternative and engaging game modes, exotic content - only recently published from the Dev. Diary - makes the game less attractive than it used to be.

7 - Clan Wars last very little nowadays

With my limited experience in CW, I can safely say that seasons now take a lot less longer than they used to.

I see no reason to have the global map frozen for such long periods. More so after the WG-CONTRAS affair.

Another, less relevant point is that mediocre-average clans have little time to put themselves on the map and reap the benefits of doing so. Nevertheless, I think most will agree that is a problem of the players and not the game mode.

8 - Constant changes to aspects of the game that required no intervention/introduction

The new missions tab, for example, took a video to explain how it worked.

I've just read about a user taking a long time in a high-end PC to download and install the new CT version (but let's give WG a discount since there are many downloads being made right now and 2GB isn't exactly small). This was through their "pre-loader".

WG Game Launcher, do you use that?

And other things that - forgive my arrogance - can be considered a waste of development time.

I'm not referring to the guy in a heavy tank that shot me for 2/3s of my HP over render distance when Sixth Sense didn't even activate. And I am referring to instances where these cases are known to happen and now cases I've witnessed in first hand or their frequency of occurrence.

Community Contributors receive many replays. Through them, it's easy to see who cheats and who doesn't. CCs know what they're doing and can more accurately tell a cheat mod being used than the average WoT user.

Sadly, even with this information, WG does nothing about it, excusing itself with their anti-cheat system being accurate enough to detect such infractions.

Moreover, there were reports of a new anti-cheat system to be tested in October, if my memory does not betray me. That was last year. Do we possess further news on this?

Usage of bots, as some programmers in here have discussed, is relatively hard to tackle and tell apart from humans as some are genuinely not very good at the game and I, for one, don't believe they should be kept from playing it on those grounds, even if others might disagree.

At the same time, actual bot users to grow an account and do shady trades with it should be dealt with. Again, I realize easier is said than done.

I would ask you guys to spare our moderation team, despite the Object 263 and SU-122-44 been negatively affected. It's not their fault, after all. it's not what they do.

With that said, though, and in a bid to avoid pointing fingers, since that's not the point of the thread, the development team rarely, if ever, voices their intentions to the players, unless their mind is already set, like we recently came to see once more.

Or ask us directly what we think, by the means of an in-game survey, and use that information in the general consensus' best interest. I put it like this because it's never possible to please everyone. Things tend to break when WG does listen, and I'll dare and say, the the wrong elements of the playerbase, regardless of how subjective that sounds.

12 - Elements "of skill" removed (Game "Dumbification&quot

If you read ValkyrionX's thread in #10, one of the proposed changes is removal of team damage.

It may sound ridiculous but that, too, is necessary. Think about mutiny, shouldn't be hard to figure the rest.

Type 5 and Maus Tanks are another easier example of how that can get, along with other decision to "protect" our members. These are vehicles that, unangled, can bounce many guns in their Tiers.

Our senior members have more other examples that are more grave than those I can list you.

Redeeming Factors

Because there's no Yin without a Yang, here are some things that I believe to bring good things to the game:

Frontline - This is entirely new and good for paper tanks arty and TDs, without ignoring everyone else. The Attack/Defence pattern and economy might be its ruin though.

A ticket system similar to BattleFields might be a better fit.

Football mode - Great. Good idea.

Consider creating a "Clan War" of football. That is, a WGFL. Rewards don't need to be mountains of gold or silver. Personal Reserves are sufficient in my opinion.

Ranked Battles - Skill should be demonstrated here and I believe the way it is scheduled, it is a positive thing for good players.

Spending and Earning bonds - New ways coming, that's great.

Customization options - The idea of having paid customizable emblems sounds like a blast, but I'll save my fireworks when I see them hit the live servers.

Final Word

I might be wrong on many points here. I hope I am.

But from where things are going, I can say I'm not very thrilled about this next patch.

More of what we already have and dislike? Sounds like a fast way of getting fed up.

WG can surprise though, by its ups and sometimes by its downs, but I suppose we'll have to wait and see.

Well hidden in spoilers not to make the topic scrolling harder then it needs to be.

Spoiler

WindSplitter1, on 08 February 2018 - 11:56 PM, said:

1 - Patch 1 doesn't fix anything

Well if you want them to postpone the HD maps to fix all of those things? You are gonna have to wait a long, long time. As version 1.0 don't mean the game is perfect or done. It's just means it's done testing the basic stuff if anything. Then again considering all the effort they put into the HD maps. You want them to stall it more? It's mostly just maps and a new game engine. It's not gonna "fix" anything. And if they fix the MM or other issues in patch 9.23 or patch 1.1 makes a difference because?

WindSplitter1, on 08 February 2018 - 11:56 PM, said:

2 - HD maps cut maps from rotation

It days 90 days pr map indeed as they said. But in stages. And not all map crews is needed for the duration of those 90 days. As they have several stages. Once one team is done with one stage, they start on the next map. And a new crew starts on the next stage on the map they worked on etc. There was a youtube video explaining it in detail. That also explained that the GB maps was done by a 3rd party studio etc.

WindSplitter1, on 08 February 2018 - 11:56 PM, said:

4 - The Premium shop is obsolete

As you said in point one "we have been complaining about"... And one of the things ppl have been complaining about is that WG do release to many new premiums and focus to much on new "deals" to fix the MM etc. So I suspect not to many cares about it. And they did just rotate tech tree tanks for gold with new stuff. So there is that.

Well as I said in point 1. You want to fix that too? Then HD maps will be way way off. As fixing all of those issues in "one" patch is not gonna be done over night. And.. a few patches in from 1.0 it will "reset" and start again anyway when a new meta comes.

WindSplitter1, on 08 February 2018 - 11:56 PM, said:

6 - Game is becoming too stale and repetitive

To each their own. But considering how past attempts on making new modes etc have worked. As no one usually cares about them for long, and they stick to the old and stale anyway. I can see why WG don't focus to much on it.

WindSplitter1, on 08 February 2018 - 11:56 PM, said:

8 - Constant changes to aspects of the game that required no intervention/introduction

As they said in one of their patch videos. "The old mission panel was nice and informative, but we did redesign it to look better". Indeed that only showed that UI design when doing it "nice" is not their strong side. As keep it simple did work. And got the info we needed fast. As for the game center app? I do use that. As I find it handy to have both NA and EU WOT client under one launcher.

And how do you know for sure he cheated in those instances? As even if you have his replay, the only mod you can prove he used in aim bot. And that's not easy to prove he used from your perspective. As most cheat mods are as well. Tho as you point out in point 10. They do list ideas to counter it. And their "mod site" to brand mods etc are currently on RU only. And I've no idea how that is progressing atm, or will do with the new engine etc.

WindSplitter1, on 08 February 2018 - 11:56 PM, said:

10 - Promised and planned content

Well I suspect most under "others" will appear. But then again that's a player moderated and edited site. Not by WG officials. So take that list with a grain of salt still. Even so if the idea is sound. Implementing it right and making it work for most players is not always the easy part. And thus why we never do see most stuff past "early leaks".

WindSplitter1, on 08 February 2018 - 11:56 PM, said:

11 - Player feedback is not taken into account

With regards to the 263 etc. They were taken into account. Issue was that their "tests" did suggest the 263 was better on tier 9 vs X and they were a bit "stubborn about it" And tbh.. the 122-54 was not a great TD on tier 9 even. It had looks. But that's about it sadly. But there are other instances when planned changes was dropped due to player feedback to If the voice is loud enough, and enough scream that is. Like the planned BC 25t gun nerf to name one.

WindSplitter1, on 08 February 2018 - 11:56 PM, said:

12 - Elements "of skill" removed (Game "Dumbification&quot

Team damage removal is not the worst idea. Issue I have with it is the "exploit" I see on console. When 2 from a platoon can lock your tank in place if they are bigger, and their 3th platoon mate can fire on them or you. Whit no fear of platoon damage. Or as an exploit for SPG missions. You can't pen them. But they keep you there so their platoon mate can stun you over and over again for his 300 sec stun to HT's mission etc.

Prob as WoT 1.0 is little more than a HD paint job after the many we have had in each patch.
There is little else for such an iconic release and sets in stone WGs approach to the player base.
I am hanging in and will have a look but think at least the EU server is going the way of NA.
Struggling to enjoy the meta shift just isn't what WoT was and the playerbase seems to be decimated beyond repair.
Just went the wrong direction for me and its only time & spend that has me slightly curious how things will pan out in WoT 1.0

Well, the matchmaker can't be fixed, it will always have some bad side. All you can do is to decide wich one shall it be. Many people say everyone should fight in his / her own tier, but that aint gonna be balanced either because of OP/UP tanks in the given tier.

I'm not sure I agree to OPs #6. While I read it as a lack of new modes I do feel that the game is actually less stale now due to a number of new content, most notably new tech tree lines. While in the overall picture it still revolves around driving a tank to a map position, using cover and shooting our guns, the new content at the very least "force" you to rethink some of aspects of what we do in the game.

I could pick through why each point is a load of rubbish but I'll start with my favourites.

1. It's a minority opinion that any of that needs fixing.

2. Some of the maps cut were duplicates, others were just rubbish, I was only expecting a dozen or so to be ready at all so I think WG need congratulating on this one. And that's beside my personal opinion that there are too many maps and they are all the same anyway.

5. Powercreep is what the whiners want. Look at the feedback for any balanced new tank. It's overwhelmingly negative and they don't sell.

6. Sounds like you are burnt out after 12k battles. Time to move on maybe?

8. Your opinion and you are entitled to it. IMO the old personal missions interface was terrible, the new one is much easier to find your way around.

10. That thread is an amalgamation of things which have been mentioned over the last eight years. Many of them were no more than a "maybe we will think about this". Barely anything in it is actually being considered for the future, nearly all of it was rejected.

Wargaming however, the multi-million powerhouse that it is, seems to be completely oblivious to something a primary school pupil can see. Guess we know the mental capacity of the people calling the shots.......

Homer_J, on 09 February 2018 - 08:10 AM, said:

5. Powercreep is what the whiners want. Look at the feedback for any balanced new tank. It's overwhelmingly negative and they don't sell.

Exactly, and who created this problem? Wargaming, by releasing broken/OP (premium) tanks when the community made clear it was going to be a mistake to do so.

It's a prime example of one of the areas in which Wargaming is digging itself into a pit.

They decided to release broken tanks so now tanks which would be considered balanced 2-3 years ago are seen as underpowered and don't sell. Had they not made this grave error in the first place these tanks would be seen as normal and sell.

They made a few extra dollars selling broken/OP vehicles in the short run but in the long run they will make less unless they keep releasing more and more broken/OP premiums. It's a sliding scale that they tipped themselves out of rampant short term greed.

If they'd kept it balanced they'd have a steady income over the years and would not have broken the balancing of this game in the process.

5. Powercreep is what the whiners want. Look at the feedback for any balanced new tank. It's overwhelmingly negative and they don't sell.

So I'm not the only one who thinks this is happening? Thank god... Everytime someone bashes the Mauerbrecher I go to tanks.gg only to repeatedly end up at the same conclusion, that it's a quite decent and balanced tank.

Powercreep is nothing more than natural progression in a game such as this.

Newer tanks need to be slightly better/different to others in order to be worth having and to tempt people to purchase them.

If all new premium tanks were the same as the old ones they wouldn't sell. Afterall, if there was no upgrade the T34 would have been the be all and end all of premium tanks since back in the day it was a powerhouse, and all who owned one would never have needed to purchase anything else.

Most of the people who complain about this kind of aspect of the game would destroy the game within a month if they had any sort of influence in these decisions.

You're also complaining that Wargaming don't listen to "the players" and the very reason for that is the 500+ whinge and cry threads they get every week. There is no substance to this "feedback" in the majority of cases since the people giving the feedback generally have zero ideawhat they're talking about. Wargaming do listen to the players who matter, and IMO this is the way forward. Good players will naturally give far better feedback since they actually understand the game and they are more likely to be listened to over the 44% bottom feeder who doesn't understand the basic mechanics he's complaining about.

Did not read all the points, maybe some make sense, but they are some kind of irrelevant to 1.0 release. This is all about software development. WG commited to 1.0 really long time ago. I do not even remember what year Rubicon was promised and failed, and they had to commit to it long time before that.

So releasing 1.0 is like finishing long term trouble making task and is not comparable to many tasks on OP list.

Page about "technical debt" seems relevant to this, since 1.0 is almost ready and not releasing would create such technical debt.

You're also complaining that Wargaming don't listen to "the players" and the very reason for that is the 500+ whinge and cry threads they get every week. There is no substance to this "feedback" in the majority of cases since the people giving the feedback generally have zero ideawhat they're talking about. Wargaming do listen to the players who matter, and IMO this is the way forward. Good players will naturally give far better feedback since they actually understand the game and they are more likely to be listened to over the 44% bottom feeder who doesn't understand the basic mechanics he's complaining about.

Good players are the minority in this game, why should WG listen to them? What you want as a gaming company is people to play your game (lots, and then buy lots), so obviously they will start to cater the game for the masses.

Good players are the minority in this game, why should WG listen to them? What you want as a gaming company is people to play your game (lots, and then buy lots), so obviously they will start to cater the game for the masses.

The masses are the average players, as is obvious.

However, when trying to improve a product particularly for the playerbase as a whole.Listening to those who actually know what they're talking about is the only way to improve the game in a positive way.

Sports are constantly being changed and improved (old rules removed/updated etc) for the benefit of all those who play. However, when deciding upon a rule change the players in the lower leagues of football would not be consulted for example. They would consult with the representatives of the top clubs.

However, when trying to improve a product particularly for the playerbase as a whole.Listening to those who actually know what they're talking about is the only way to improve the game in a positive way.

Good players who genuinely want what is best for the game as a whole, not just for good players, are like hen's teeth (or rocking horse poop).

Good players are the minority in this game, why should WG listen to them? What you want as a gaming company is people to play your game (lots, and then buy lots), so obviously they will start to cater the game for the masses.

The game has to cater to the masses, but that does not mean the opinions of the good players should be ignored. Better players do have a better understanding of mechanics and their opinions are very valuable.

You have to understand that people that recreate the maps on a new graphics engine are not the same people that balance tanks / desing new game modes / moderate etc.

I see the 1.0 patch as a huge step up and a clear sign that game is far from dying - this is a huge commitment from Wargaming, certainly far greater than releasing new premium once in a while. Also there are many people that care about the graphics - this patch will surely increase the number of both new and returning players, at least for some time.

The only thing I wish they would improve before/with 1.0 release is the new player experience. Low tiers are terrible, derpy, sealclubby, very fast paced and punish mistakes much more than high tiers due to low HP pools compared to DPM. This decreases player retention for sure and is overall bad for the game.

1. Not finding the new visuals easy on the eye & might be an issue for longer sessions - colours, textures and brightness seem off for something that's viewed at such close range. Still playing with settings to tone everything down but 0.9.22 still seems more playable without the non functional visual clutter that 1.0 brings.

2. Changes to shell tracers - can't see where shots are going. At far as I can tell this is a deliberate change, unlike the sound bug and makes it a pain to adjust shots.